Jeff Malpas

Born in Sydney, but growing up in Auckland, New Zealand, Professor Jeff Malpas completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Auckland and his PhD at the Australian National University. His first academic position was at the University of New England from 1985 until 1989, and he was at Murdoch University from 1989 until 1997.

Within philosophy, Professor Malpas is perhaps best known as one of a small number of philosophers who work across the analytic-continental divide, publishing one of the first books that drew attention to convergences in the thinking of the key twentieth century American philosopher Donald Davidson and the phenomenological and hermeneutic traditions, as exemplified in the work of Heidegger and Gadamer. More broadly, Professor Malpas’ work has been characterized by considerable inter-disciplinary engagement, particularly in relation to issues of space and place. His 1999 book, Place and Experience: A Philosophical Topography, was described by Professor Ed Casey of SUNY, as ‘the most important book written on the topic of place’ (Philosophy and Geography, 2001). He is currently Professor of Philosophy at the University of Tasmania.

Jeff worked with TERROIR on Cosmopolitan Ground, an engagement that came out of his work with Richard Blythe at the University of Tasmania. Somewhat serendipitously, Jeff worked with Andrew Benjamin on his cosmopolitan project at the same time. Andrew wrote the introduction of Cosmopolitan Ground and was key in joining together the team of philosophers on the project. Jeff has also written about TERROIR projects in the architectural press.